Monmouthshire Regiment

This regiment was unusual in that it had no units of the regular army. All of its battalions were of the Territorial Force.

1/1st Battalion

August 1914 : at Newport. Part of Welsh Border Brigade in the Welsh Division. Moved on mobilisation to Pembroke Dock but by 10 August went to Oswestry and by the end of the month was at St James’ in Northampton. Moved to Hemingstone near Ipswich (certainly by October) and in December 1914 was at Barningham near Thetford in Norfolk. The battalion moved in early January 1915 to Cambridge.
13 February 1915 : left the Division and landed in France. Came under orders of 84th Brigade in 28th Division.
27 May 1915 : amalgamated with the 1/2nd and 1/3rd Bns at Vlamertinghe, after all suffered heavy casualties during Second Battle of Ypres. Resumed identity on 11 August 1915.
3 September 1915 : transferred as Pioneer Battalion to 46th (North Midland) Division.

1/2nd Battalion

August 1914 : at Pontypool. Part of Welsh Border Brigade in the Welsh Division. Moved on mobilisation to Pembroke Dock but by 10 August went to Oswestry and by the end of the month was at Northampton.
7 November 1914 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre. Came under orders of 12th Brigade in 4th Division.
27 May 1915 : amalgamated with the 1/1st and 1/3rd Bns. Resumed identity on 24 July 1915 and rejoined Brigade.
30 January 1916 : left Division and moved to Lines of Communication.
1 May 1916 : transferred as Pioneer Battalion to 29th Division.

Engineers of the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (Pioneers of the 29th Division) and trench mortar battery personnel of the 29th Division repairing plank road to left of Hooge, building inside of mine crater to make wheeled traffic possible, 1 October 1918. [During the final offensive in Flanders]. Imperial War Museum image Q11781

1/3rd Battalion

August 1914 : at Abergavenny. Part of Welsh Border Brigade in the Welsh Division. Moved on mobilisation to Pembroke Dock but by 10 August went to Oswestry and by the end of the month was at Northampton. Moved in December to Bury St Edmunds and in January 1915 to Cambridge.
14 February 1915 : left the Division and landed in France. Came under orders of 83rd Brigade in 28th Division.
27 May 1915 : amalgamated with the 1/1st and 1/2nd Bns. Resumed identity on 11 August 1915.
2 September 1915 : transferred as Pioneer Battalion to 49th (West Riding) Division.
9 August 1916 : left Division and became GHQ Troops.
On 31 August, disbanded and troops sent to 1/1st and 1/2nd Bns.

The splendid memorial to the 3rd Battalion of the regiment in Abegavenny. Author’s collection.

2/1st Battalion

Formed at Newport in September 1914 as a second line battalion.
20 February 1915 : moved to Cambridge and came under orders of Welsh Border Brigade in the Welsh Division.
19 April 1915 : moved to Cambridge and transferred to 205th Brigade in 68th Division. Moved to Bedford in July 1915, Lowestoft in November 1916, Herringfleet in spring 1917 and back to Lowestoft later in the year.
31 March 1918 : disbanded.

2/2nd Battalion

Formed at Pontypool in September 1914 as a second line battalion. Record same as 2/1st Bn.
20 April 1918 : disbanded.

2/3rd Battalion

Formed at Abergavenny in September 1914 as a second line battalion. Record same as 2/1st Bn.
August 1917 : disbanded, troops going to 2/1st and 2/2nd Bns.

3/1st, 3/2nd and 3/3rd Battalions

Formed at home bases in February 1915. All moved to Abergavenny and in September to Oswestry.
8 April 1916 : became Reserve Bns.
1 September 1916 : 1st absorbed the 2nd and 3rd Bns. Moved to Gobowen in summer 1917.
10 July 1917 : absorbed the 1st Reserve Brecknock Bn of the South Wales Borderers. Moved to Kinmel Park in March 1918 and finally to Herne Bay in July 1918.

4th Battalion

On 1 January 1917, the 48th Provisional Bn became 4th Monmouths. The 4th, based at Cromer, had been formed from Home Service personnel from the TF Bns of the Monmouths and Herefordshire Regiment. Moved to Mundesley in summer 1917 and finally to Happisburgh in May 1918.

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